ALBANY — Cirque du Soleil’s “Ovo” opened last night with the first of its six scheduled performances at the Times Union Center on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Prior to last night’s performance, The Spot 518 was welcomed to a behind-the-scenes experience as performers prepared for the show.
Ovo, meaning “egg” in Portuguese, is a headlong rush into a colorful ecosystem teeming with
life, where insects work, eat, crawl, flutter, play, fight and look for love in a non-stop riot of energy
and movement. When a mysterious egg appears in their midst, the insects are awestruck and
intensely curious about this iconic object that represents the enigma and cycles of their lives. It is
love at first sight when a gawky, quirky insect arrives in this bustling community and a fabulous
ladybug catches his eye – and the feeling is mutual.
The cast of “Ovo” is comprised of 52 performing artists from 14 countries specializing in many
acrobatic acts. “Ovo” is now a Cirque du Soleil classic. It features over 10 different high-level
acrobatic acts such as foot juggling and Icarian Games, hand-balancing, contortion, aerial straps,
slackwire, Russian cradle and a signature final act mixing trampoline, tumbling and rock-climbing.
The Creative Team behind the world of OVO consists of Artistic Guides Guy Laliberté and Gilles Ste-
Croix; Writer, Director and Choreographer Deborah Colker (first female director at Cirque du
Soleil); Director of Creation Chantal Tremblay; Set and props Designer Gringo Cardia; Costume
Designer Liz Vandal; Composer and Musical Director Berna Ceppas; Lighting Designer Éric
Champoux; Sound Designer Jonathan Deans and for the first time at Cirque du Soleil: Rigging
and Acrobatic Equipment Designer Fred Gérard; Acrobatic Performance Designer Philippe
Aubertin; and Makeup Designer Julie Bégin.
Behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Ovo’ before opening night at the Times Union Center in Albany on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Ovo’ before opening night at the Times Union Center in Albany on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Ovo’ before opening night at the Times Union Center in Albany on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Ovo’ before opening night at the Times Union Center in Albany on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Ovo’ before opening night at the Times Union Center in Albany on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Ovo’ before opening night at the Times Union Center in Albany on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Ovo’ before opening night at the Times Union Center in Albany on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Ovo’ before opening night at the Times Union Center in Albany on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Ovo’ before opening night at the Times Union Center in Albany on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Ovo’ before opening night at the Times Union Center in Albany on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Ovo’ before opening night at the Times Union Center in Albany on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Ovo’ before opening night at the Times Union Center in Albany on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Ovo’ before opening night at the Times Union Center in Albany on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Ovo’ before opening night at the Times Union Center in Albany on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Ovo’ before opening night at the Times Union Center in Albany on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Ovo’ before opening night at the Times Union Center in Albany on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Ovo’ before opening night at the Times Union Center in Albany on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Ovo’ before opening night at the Times Union Center in Albany on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Ovo’ before opening night at the Times Union Center in Albany on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Ovo’ before opening night at the Times Union Center in Albany on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Ovo’ before opening night at the Times Union Center in Albany on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Ovo’ before opening night at the Times Union Center in Albany on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Ovo’ before opening night at the Times Union Center in Albany on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Ovo’ before opening night at the Times Union Center in Albany on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Ovo’ before opening night at the Times Union Center in Albany on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Ovo’ before opening night at the Times Union Center in Albany on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Ovo’ before opening night at the Times Union Center in Albany on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Ovo’ before opening night at the Times Union Center in Albany on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Ovo’ before opening night at the Times Union Center in Albany on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Ovo’ before opening night at the Times Union Center in Albany on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Ovo’ before opening night at the Times Union Center in Albany on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Ovo’ before opening night at the Times Union Center in Albany on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Ovo’ before opening night at the Times Union Center in Albany on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Ovo’ before opening night at the Times Union Center in Albany on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Ovo’ before opening night at the Times Union Center in Albany on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Ovo’ before opening night at the Times Union Center in Albany on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Ovo’ before opening night at the Times Union Center in Albany on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Ovo’ before opening night at the Times Union Center in Albany on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Ovo’ before opening night at the Times Union Center in Albany on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Ovo’ before opening night at the Times Union Center in Albany on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Michael Hallisey is managing editor of Spotlight Newspapers.
